I am pretty sure the vet would have picked up any compaction if there was any.
I think I owe you one Ron....
The Role of Calcium
Calcium is a critical mineral in vertebrate bodies. It is involved in nearly every major metabolic process, especially strengthening bones, transmission of nerve impulses and contraction of muscles. The symptoms of lack of calcium can vary accordingly - deformed skeleton, muscle weakness, twitches or muscular spasms plus a few more less common ones.
The Role of Vitamin D
For the body to be able to absorb calcium from the gut and to be able to use calcium once it is inside the body, Vitamin D is required. In nature Vitamin D is photosynthesised in the skin using the energy from UVB radiation in sunlight. So dragons produce their Vitamin D when basking to warm up.
The Role of UVB
A UVB light with a rating of 10 is appropriate for dragons. The distance has been mentioned and it should be near or over the same area as the basking light. The synthesis of Vitamin D occurs most effectively when the animal is at or near its preferred body temperature. All UVB sources degrade with use and need to be replaced every 6 to 12 months (check the manufacturer’s recommendation). The visible light from a UVB lamp does not alter so you can use it around the house once the UVB has dropped off. 4 hours of the UVB lamp per day, from mid-morning to early afternoon is adequate. Some people prefer 6 or 8 hours.
30 minutes of quality sunshine 4 times a week is adequate for keeping a dragon without a UVB lamp in their enclosure. Many people prefer to provide more. Quality sunshine means around midday, except in the real heat of summer.
Providing Calcium Supplements
Normal calcium supplements with food should NOT be administered every day. For a healthy animal twice a week is fine and certainly no more often than three times. Maintaining the required level of calcium in the blood is critical to the body’s functioning. Under normal circumstances this is achieved through withdrawal of calcium from the bones or storage of calcium within the bones.
If calcium is continuously supplied and therefore continually be taken up from the gut, it can build up in the blood before the body has a chance to store it. The body interprets this as excess and excretes it via the kidneys. This is why some lizards that have had calcium supplements added to all of their food, have ended up at the vet and been diagnosed as lacking calcium.
Providing a small of finely ground up cuttlefish skeleton is an excellent way to provide calcium. Dragons will usually help themselves periodically. If you have trouble getting them to drink, an aquarium air pump set on low and the outlet tube placed in the water produces water movement which is very effective in enticing them to drink. Something about the moving water.
Blue